In consideration of others and as guests of West High School . . .
- Please silence your phone and watch.
- Name tags are a great start to a meaningful connection. Thanks for wearing one.
- Our Nursery has been temporarily relocated due to the school’s production materials backstage. Parents, please look for the sign across the small parking lot in the area where the Children’s Ministry meets. Thank you for your understanding.
- If you’d like to give an offering, there are two baskets in the back or you can use the “Giving” tab at the bottom-right corner of the mobile app.
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
you will bring me up again.
Psalm 71:20
For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in my flesh I shall see God,
whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me!
Job 19:25-27
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
John 6:40
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
Revelation 21:4-5a
“Holy Saturday. Still the best reminder that the silence of God does not equal the absence of God.”
– Sammy Rhodes
“Dawn is ever the hope of men.”
– JRR Tolkien
“Christianity is in its very essence a resurrection religion. The concept of resurrection lies at its heart. If you remove it, Christianity is destroyed.”
–John Stott
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 98:1-3
Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
SONG
Doxology
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him, all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
All Creatures of Our God and King
[Verse 1]
All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
Oh Praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam!
O, praise Him! O, praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
[Verse 2]
Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in heaven along
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!
Oh praise Him! Oh praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
[Verse 3]
Let all things their Creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
Oh praise Him! Oh praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
SONG
Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me
[Verse 1]
What gift of grace is Jesus, my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace
[Chorus 1]
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh, how strange and divine, I can sing: All is mine!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
[Verse 2]
The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side, the Savior He will stay
I labor on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need, His power is displayed
[Chorus 2]
To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley, He will lead
Oh, the night has been won, and I shall overcome
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
[Verse 3]
No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven
The future sure, the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave
[Chorus 3]
To this I hold, my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh, the chains are released, I can sing: I am free!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
[Verse 4]
With every breath, I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
[Chorus 4]
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
SCRIPTURE READING
John 11:17-27
17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
SONG
Forever
The moon and stars they wept
The morning sun was dead
The savior of the world was fallen
His body on the cross
His blood poured out for us
The weight of every curse upon him
One final breath he gave
As heaven looked away
The son of God was laid in darkness
A battle in the grave
The war on death was waged
The power of hell forever broken
The ground began to shake
The stone was rolled away
His perfect love could not be overcome
Now death where is your sting
Our resurrected king has rendered you defeated
Forever, he is glorified
Forever, he is lifted high
Forever, He is risen
He is alive, He is alive
We sing hallelujah
We sing hallelujah
We sing hallelujah
The lamb has overcome
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pastor Rudy Rubio next Sunday, April 16. Rudy is the pastor of Reformed Church of Los Angeles (in Lynwood and Wilmington). We have partnered with their ministry in the past and we plan to continue. Rudy has a lot of energy and passion to redeem what is lost and broken in our area.
New Community Group Forming – A group for families with young children (but not exclusively) will begin meeting on Sunday, April 16th. To start, they will use a book called Hope in Times of Fear by Tim Keller. You can register here and get more details about meeting frequency and childcare.
Meet King’s Cross Church! Sunday, April 23 after church. For newer people to get to know our church and some leaders. In-person at Joe Brown’s house. Lunch will be included! REGISTER here.
OFFERTORY
If you would like to give electronically, you may do so using the “Giving” tab at the bottom-right corner of the mobile app. There are also white baskets in the back of our worship space, where you can give via check, made out to King’s Cross Church, or cash.
Song: Were You There?
SERMON
Series – Elijah & Elisha: Fire and Mercy
Message: “Don’t Get My Hopes Up!”
2 Kings 4:8-37 (ESV)
8 One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. 9 And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. 10 Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.”
11 One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there. 12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘See, you have taken all this trouble for us; what is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’ ” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” 14 And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 He said, “Call her.” And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 And he said, “At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant.” 17 But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the following spring, as Elisha had said to her.
18 When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. 19 And he said to his father, “Oh, my head, my head!” The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died. 21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God and shut the door behind him and went out. 22 Then she called to her husband and said, “Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again.” 23 And he said, “Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath.” She said, “All is well.” 24 Then she saddled the donkey, and she said to her servant, “Urge the animal on; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.” 25 So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.
When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Look, there is the Shunammite. 26 Run at once to meet her and say to her, ‘Is all well with you? Is all well with your husband? Is all well with the child?’ ” And she answered, “All is well.” 27 And when she came to the mountain to the man of God, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came to push her away. But the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for she is in bitter distress, and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me.” 28 Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me?’ ” 29 He said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not reply. And lay my staff on the face of the child.” 30 Then the mother of the child said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her. 31 Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. Therefore he returned to meet him and told him, “The child has not awakened.”
32 When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. 33 So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the Lord. 34 Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. 35 Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 Then he summoned Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” 37 She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.
SONG
Oh Give Thanks (Psalm 107)
We were locked out of the garden, and our backs bent down with pain
In the shadow of death’s darkness, we were slaves to sin and blame
Then we cried out in our labor to the only One who hears
And the God of mercy wiped away our tears
We were wandering in the desert with our souls so starved and weak
We were hungry for a homeland we did not know how to seek
But we lifted up our voices to the only One who hears
And the God of mercy came and brought us near
[Chorus]
Oh give thanks to the LORD for His love endures forever!
We were wandering and lost, and our Father brought us home
To a safe dwelling place, to a feast of joy and laughter
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
We were fools in our rebellion, with our hunger strike of pride
We were sick and growing closer to the death we should have died
Then he heard of our condition, and he called us by our names
And the God of glory took away our shame
[Chorus]
There was darkness and the Earth shook at the Savior’s final breath
And He cried out “It is finished” as He hung His head in death
But what man had meant for evil, God meant it for our gain
When that curtain tore and Jesus rose again!
[Chorus x 2]
Oh give praise to the Lord, for He lives and reigns forever!
We were wandering and lost, but de – livered at the cross
To a safe dwelling place, to a feast of joy and laughter
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
BENEDICTION
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead
will also give life to your mortal bodies
through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8:11